Sheriff deputies arrest Lima teen in weekend slaying

By Greg Sowinski gsowinski@civitasmedia.com

April 15, 2014

LIMA — Sheriff detectives arrested a man late Tuesday afternoon in connection with a deadly shooting outside a bar during the weekend.

Jaquone Ledell Phillips, 18, of 620 Madison Ave., was charged with murder in connection with Saturday's shooting of Marcus Simpson. The West Central Ohio Crime Task Force found Phillips inside a vehicle at 4:45 p.m. in the area of Bellefontaine and Collins avenues, Sheriff Sam Crish reported.

Phillips was arrested without incident, Crish said.

Phillips could be in court as early as Wednesday for a bond hearing at Lima Municipal Court.

Crish would not discuss a motive or exactly what led to the man's arrest. He said the case remained under investigation. Crish said it's too early to tell if anyone else will be arrested. The sheriff said there's still questions detectives want answered and will continue to work to get the answers.

Phillips is charged in the shooting death of 19-year-old Marcus Simpson Jr. He has not been charged in the wounding of 21-year-old Devontae Williams, who also was shot but survived, but Crish said he is a suspect in that shooting, too, and could be charged.

The deadly shooting happened at 3:57 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of H&R Lounge at 114 E. 12th St. Deputies responded to a call of shots fired. Simpson was taken to Lima Memorial Health System where he was pronounced dead. He was shot once in the chest, Crish said.